The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1887-10-20

lot tAtff tbao IL " - u e~Stom 70 Noth
Without football, voice y warning. th,
touch came again upon ~ same shoulder
aud 10 the same mannsr. l felt IL a'
/ ever felt the touch Ola human hard
Quick AS a fash l turned. rising to my
feet to preven, any possibility Of hiding
or escape. The room vas smpty the dool
remained closed as bad kit ii.
"Did you ever turn ferssly to strike at
enemy back OF you. aud hud nothing |
sas not frightened; anger was. the pre-
dominant feeling. l vas conscious OF be.
log the victim OF shrewd deception.
felt that this mysterious presence, this
nsmeless and immaterial something. was
inimical to me was eager 10 materialixe
il, corner it. understand n II would
have delighted me to learn that was the
victim OF a practical Joke. as that would
have barred the supernatural.
"'Lsursr | cried, going to the door.
'Iu few moments heard the rustic OF
her dress on the stairway.
".Whst is it George 2 she s,ked,ss she
burst eagerly into the room.
Something has touched me on the
shoulder again, ! replied What can il
be 2
:" 4 wish | knew. said Laura. drawing
very uear to me, aud looking about the
room With mystetiel aud frightened ex :
preston I'm sure can't see anything.
"'Were yon asleep when ! called I?
No, was reading
"'Dil you hear anything
"'Not sound. Sit down again, George,
Just as you sat when the hand touched
you | have an idea
Laura approached me softly, | could
hear her footballs very family aud laid her
hand just where the mysterious touch bad
come aud even more gently.
Laura !! cried |. spriuging up, 'you
did it. What a fool you have made Of
me T
"'George, she exclaimed, her great
dark eyes filling with tears, i did not
do it, know nothing about it, How
could you doubt me +
al do not doubt you, little vile, said
/, reassuringly; but began TO doubt my.
self.
Il put out the light aud We went up
stairs together, both in rather sombre
mood. II, after all. it was really spirit
hand that touched me, what did it mean
Did it portend misfortune OF some kind,
death +? Unconsciously began to grow
morbid upon the subject. With the
slightest basis on which to begin an in
vestigation | should not have despaired.
But what was there TO investigate With.
out the aid Of sight and hearing reason
the simple act OF feeling the
touch sr~itoa n,a nothing What conclu-
sion could l arrive at but tho. the touch
was supernatural.
Twice upon the street was conscious
Of the same tonch, in broad daylight, when
no deception was possible. Unable to
fathom the mystery, waited curiously to
see what it portended.
"One evening. while was seated at my
desk, DR.. Earle cAlled,a an aged gentleman,
In whose conversation take great pleas
ure. Seating him comfortably in my eas.
lest chair. l excused myself moment
while completing letter had begun be-
lore his arrival. had called Laura, but
she had not yet come down. Without the
slightest warning, as has always been the
case. the same hand was placed upon my
shoulder. No longer gentle, it gripped
me firmly, as II strong man had grasped
he flesh aud squeezed it. Pained, amazed
sager to see what this new phase Of the
mystery meant. l whirled about with arms
,xtendej. There was nothing behind me-
DR.. Earle was quietly seated on the op-
posite side OF the room. glaucing over the
laily paper.
Doctor, said /, conscious that my
ace was red with shame, i suppose you
hink me crazy /
Crazy, repeated the doctor, eying
ne curiously over his glasses.
"What could say What explanation
'ould make determined TO tell him
he whole story, hoping to find some par
llel for il in bis long experience as ply
ician. Drawing my chair close to him,
eclted every incident connected with the
Mysterious touch MS clearly aud connect
dly as ! could. He was interested from
be beginning When had flushed be
ooked carefully about the room, silently
egarded me with an expression humorous
'ar,ly puzzling, and then observed:
"'Will you please take of your coat ?
II did so.
"Roll mp yonr sleeves. be continued.
II did 80, wondering at the meaning OF
uch procedure. Was II one Of the old
droll conceits 7 He grasped
~ shoulder and squeezed it. drawing
rom me cry Of pain.
Night after night, he sagely remark
4, frosning, you have sat by this screen.
DOL, moist air has blown on your shonl-
er for hours at time. What other re-
nlts could have been expected 2
" Pray, doctor, what is the result 2 |
sked, eagerly.
" 'Eheum atism, was the sententious re.
ly.
And the soft, spIrit-lise touch 2
Was merely the twiiching Of a mus
le The soft. spirit-like stage has pass
!. the fire aud gimlet stage comes next
uless you learn wisdom.
+" 4 could have embraced the old gen
tmsn in my transports. With gleeiul
nm skfn anil . hmm I ran IN tha dnor